Afghanistan's exclusion from Asia Cup

A shame : Kabir

Afghaninstan's head coach, Kabir Khan, has expressed disappointment
with the exclusion of his team from the Asia Cup, saying it is important
for emerging teams to be given chances in major tournaments against top
teams.

Afghanistan cricket coach Kabir Khan

"I think it's a shame. They should have given us that chance," said
Khan.

The Afghan team started their rise to prominence on the international
stage when they qualified for the World Twenty20 2010 in the West
Indies. From there onwards, they went on to win the Inter-Continental
Cup for associate countries, and came in second at the Asian Games in
China. They won ODI status after coming in fifth during the World Cup
2011 qualifiers, and their first match against a top team was earlier
this year in February, against Pakistan in UAE. While Pakistan,
Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka were roped in for participation in the
Asia Cup, Afghanistan, despite the fact that they belong to the region,
were not included.

"The Asia Cup is an ODI tournament and we have ODI status," Khan
stressed. "We have earned that position by winning tournaments and going
up in the rankings. If you don't play against those top teams, how are
we going to improve?"

Shahriar Khan, a media manager from the Asian Cricket Council
clarified that the exclusion owed entirely to the fact that the Afghan
team had received their ODI status after the contracts for the series
had already been drawn, and schedules had been finalized.Despite the
snub, the fghan team remained upbeat, and expressed confidence in their
ability to make it through the ongoing ICC World T20 Qualifiers, and
secure a spot in the final tournament this September in Sri Lanka.

"We are unbeaten," wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad said to The
Associated Press. "We have played well against every team and reached
the semifinals. It doesn't matter who comes to the semifinals. We will
beat them."

Afghanistan has won all seven matches they have played, and are
currently at the top of the Group A table, with 14 points.

They will be facing off against Namibia in a preliminary final on
March 22 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. BETTOR